Why not low fat?

**ttdriver** · August 12, 2007, 04:09 PM

Re: Why not low fat?

That's a good question.

You can combine lower fat with low carb, but recognize that anything processed and billed as "low fat" will contain sugar and/or starch. If you want to eat lower fat leaner cuts of meat, then that would work. Personally I find fat to be very satisfying and it keeps me fuller longer, therefore I end up eating less.

Betty

**Chef Kevin** · August 12, 2007, 04:14 PM

Re: Why not low fat?

and if you eat a bunch of protein it is converted to glucose

**cocobelle** · August 12, 2007, 07:38 PM

Re: Why not low fat?

Ideally, you should be working towards a chemical free diet. At the end of your journey, you'll be eating meats, fruits and vegetables, with whole grains as a treat. The low-fat counterparts generally contain quite a bit of chemicals - not necessarily as tasteful as their full-fat cousins.

**Evermind** · August 12, 2007, 08:14 PM

Re: Why not low fat?

The simple answer is that if you were doing low fat and low carb, you wouldn't be doing Atkins. You'd be doing South Beach. Or Palm Beach, if you eat extra protein.

**meaty** · August 12, 2007, 08:26 PM

Re: Why not low fat?

Lizzard-you need to read the book. He explains the whole thing. And on that note, have any of you tried the fat fast on page 272?

**thexproject** · August 12, 2007, 09:09 PM

Re: Why not low fat?

if you want to try that method try doing Kimkins (blah)

**meaty** · August 12, 2007, 09:11 PM

Re: Why not low fat?

what's that?

**sallyseachange** · August 13, 2007, 12:21 AM

Re: Why not low fat?

No one should do the fat fast unless they're severely metabolically resistent to weight loss. It's dangerous for those who are not in this category. Also... those I know who have done it without fitting the "fat fast profile" have re-gained all the weight at the speed of light after finishing. It just doesn't pay.

**Lizard099** · August 13, 2007, 04:26 AM

Re: Why not low fat?

Thank you for all of your replies. I did not say I was going to do it, I am just curious, like if there is something in fat that makes the diet work better. I am all about the fat we can eat on this diet. I love that everything is natural.

Again, thanks for your replies.

**Grant** · August 13, 2007, 04:59 AM

Re: Why not low fat?

I don't have my book with me so I can't doublecheck this but I thought I remember Dr. Atkins specifically warning against trying to do low fat and low carb. If I remember correctly it was because we are burning fat as our primary fuel source rather then carbs, and we really need that source of energy. Without it our body can't pull enough energy from our stored fat and will take it from our muscles leaving you feeling weak and tired all the time.

**Hudson** · August 13, 2007, 07:17 AM

Re: Why not low fat?

Yea you can do it. But there is not much research that says low-fat is a good idea. I think you may need to get over a fat phobia. Fat is good for you.

**SugarFreeSheila** · August 13, 2007, 07:31 AM

Re: Why not low fat?

Below are some points to note from the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution:

It is not true that the only way to lose weight is to limit your intake of calories.
You burn more calories when your body is operating on a fat metabolism.
Atkins has repeatedly been proven to take off more fat than other weight loss programs when an equal number of calories is consumed.
You need not remove the skin and fat from meat or fowl.

... and my personal favorite:

"I cannot stress strongly enough that trying to do a low-fat version of Atkins will interfere with fat burning and derail your weight loss."

These are just a few of Dr. Atkins' well-illustrated reasons for not incorporating a low-fat or low-calorie component to his low-carb program. My own? Unless one is under specific orders to do so by his or her physician, it just simply isn't necessary!

What makes me so sure?

A great many individuals starting out on Atkins have written to me through the years experiencing weight standstills, thinking that they need to slash fat and/or calories in order to lose. My first question is that they submit a typical day's Induction menu - and lo and behold, 90% of the time there are low-carb bars, shakes, low-carb tortillas, lots of sugar-free JELL-O, half-and-half or sometimes even milk, low-fat cheeses or more than the 3-4 ounce limit of full-fat cheeses, and/or nuts/nut butters, and only lettuce for the required vegetables.

I send them this finite list of allowable foods, as well as this ADBB one to print out, so that they may reevaluate their menu. Once they extract the no-no's and replace them with Induction-friendly fare, BOOM. I hear from them a few days later, and they report being a few pounds lighter - even though their calories and fat are not low or even restricted. In fact, when their calories are shared with me, they typically exceed 2,000 per day - I know the few times I have bothered to add up my own, it was always well over this number.

You really cannot beat such a metabolic advantage - and as someone who is several dress sizes heavier at a mere 5'2"-5'3" even when I used to attempt low-calorie and low-fat, and have only ever walked for cardio ... this is saying a lot!